Strip feeding mechanism



p 1957 A. w. METZNER 2,807,347

STRIP FEEDING wscaaursm Filed Jan. 12. 1954 IN VEN TOR. ALBERT W.MBTZNER United States Patent STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Albert W. Metzner,Dayton, Ohio, assig'nor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio,a corporation of Ohio Application January 12, 1954, Serial No. 403,550.8 Claims. Cl. 197-133 This invention relates to strip feeding mechanismand has particular reference to typewriting and like machines having arotatable platen equipped with pin feeding devices for accurateregistration and positive feeding of marginally perforated record stripmaterial.

The pins of the pin feeding devices have a progressive engagement withthe perforations in the strip. It is desirable that, in entering theperforations, the pins contact the fore side or what may be consideredthe leading edge of the perforations, thus obviating lost motion andreducing the likelihood of misalignment'among the several record copyforms which ordinarily comprise a record strip. It has been endeavoredin the past to achieve this object by an appropriate placing of the packfrom which the record strip is fed, but the results thereof areinconsistent.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of strip feeding mechanisms, wherebysuch mechanisms may not only be economically manufactured, but will bemore satisfactory in use, of longer life, adaptable to a wide variety ofapplications, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

It is an object of this invention to make positive provision forengagement of the feeding pins with the leading edges of the recordstrip perforations, whereby to advance the strip consistently under themost favorable conditions.

Another object of the invention is to utilize in such positively actingcontrol friction feed devices heretofore having alternative use only, inconnection with pin feeding mechanismsg A further object of theinvention is to provide for simplified adjustment of the describedpositively acting control in order that it may function with optimumeffect irrespective of the number of record copies comprised in therecord strip. e

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feedingmechanism possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention intended to beprotected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction,the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereindescribed or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or theirequivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown one, butobviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of one end of the carriageof a typewriting machine, modified in accordance with the illustratedembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in cross section, showing the frictionrelease lever and associated parts, the friction rollers pressing therecord'strip to the platen;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the friction rollers out ofpressural relation to the platen;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of the friction releaselever;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, in plan, of the friction release lever andassociated detenting mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, of the platen showingthe engagement of the feeding pins in the record strip perforations.Like parts are indicated by similar characters of ref erence throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, a typewriting machine in ac cordance with theillustrated embodiment of the invention includes a cylindrical platen10, mounted on a shaft 11 supported in a frame 12, the latter being apart of the carriage of the machine. Means, including a gear 13, areprovided for turning the platen 10 in a step by step rotary motion. Aguard housing 14 substantially encloses the platen actuating means andis mounted on the frame 12.

Rotating with and forming a part of the platen 10 is a pin wheelassembly 15,. including a body 16 and radial pins 17 which are projectedand retracted relatively to the periphery of the body 16, according to aseries proextends to the platen from the rear thereof, passes be-' neathand around the platen, and through and beyond the writing line 18. Thefeeding pins 17 normally are projected in the area of the writing line,and the strip 19 has perforations 21 to receive such pins. Thus rotationof the platen and pin wheel assembly is accompanied by a positivemovement of corresponding extent of the strip 19. It will be furtherunderstood that, according to the usual cooperative arrangement of theparts, the strip 19 has a continuous row of perforations 21 in each sidemargin thereof, and that there are separate laterally spaced apart pinwheel assemblies 15 for each row of perforations.

Beneath the platen 10 is a pressure plate 22 and rollers 23 and 24constructed and arranged for pressural engagement with the platen. Thestrip 19 is interposed between the platen and the described pressureapplying assembly, which thus acts as a friction means holding the stripto the surface of theplaten. The assembly comprising plate 22 androllers 23 and 24 is connected to a lever means 25 supported for rockingmotion from the frame 12, as by a bracket 26 One arm' of the lever means25 carries a roller 27 received in an arcuate slot 28 in the lower endof a lever 29, such lever being pivotally connected intermediate itsends at 31 to the frame 12. The upper end of the lever 29 rises througha slot 32 in the guard housing 14, projecting upward therefrom formanipulation by the hand of the operator of the machine. Movable to andfro between the extremes of motion shown in'Figs. 2 and 3,- the lever 29rocks the lever means 25 to adjust the plate.

22 and rollers 23 and 24 alternatively to the operating position of Fig.2 and the release position of Fig. 3. Ad

. justed as shown in Fig. 2, the plate 22 and rollers 23 and 24 pressthe strip 19 frictionally upon the platen 10. Adjusted as shown in Fig.3, the plate 22 and rollers 23 and 24 are in effect backed off from theplaten 10 and have no frictional effect upon the strip.

It may be recognized that the friction applying and friction controldevices-above described are constructed;

Patented Sept. 24, 19,57

and arranged as and function as the friction feed and friction releasemeans of a conventional typewriting machine. In the case of a machineequipped with pin wheel feeding devices as here disclosed, ithasheretoforebeen the practice to set the lever 29 to the release positionof Fig. 3, it being the intent that the pressure plate 22 and rollers 23and24 should serve no purpose in a pin feeding operation. According tothe concept of the present invention, however, the friction feed devicesare used in conjunction with and at the same time as the pin feedmechanism. To this end, in the operation of the machine the lever 29 isset 'to an operating position, as the position of Fig. 2.

The strip 19 is thus urged into frictional contact with the platen priorto reaching the writing line 18. A drag or tension is thereby exerted onthe strip tending to insure that the pins 17 willenter the perforations21 at the front thereof substantially in the manner indicated in Fig. 6.

A slight amount of tension on the strip will produce the desired effect.So that this amount may be selected and varied at will, and also tocompensate for differences in the thickness of the strip, the lever 29is made adjustable to multiple positions between the extremes asrepresented by Figs. 2 and 3. As seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the guardhousing 14 mounts a toothed rack 32. The lever 29 has a spring detent 33attached thereto which travels over the rack 32, riding into and out ofsuccessive teeth thereon, as the lever is moved to and fro. It will beevident that the arrangement provides for selective adjustment of thelever 29 to any one of a plurality of positions, each of which mayrepresent the correct position for applying the proper amount of tensionto a strip of predetermined thickness. Thus starting from the positionof Fig. 2, the lever 29 will be moved toward the position of Fig. 3different distances, depending upon whetherthe strip is comprised ofthree copies, five copies and so on.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, F

but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one ofseveral modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Ina typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen, frictionmechanism adjustable to effect in conjunction with said platen grippingand releasing of interposed writing paper, a manually operable leversituated in adjacent relation to said platen and movable to and fro toadjust said mechanism, said lever having opposing extremes of motion,and detenting means determining a plurality of positions of adjustmentfor said lever between said extremes, said lever being settableselectively to said positions in accordance with the number of copiescomprised in the interposed writing paper.

2. In a typewriting or like machine, a carriage including a frame, aplaten mounted on said frame for relative rotary motion, pressure meansmounted on said frame for approaching and withdrawing motions relativelyto said platen to grip and release interposed writing paper, a manuallyoperable lever pivotally connected to said frame for to and fro motion,cam means connecting said lever to said pressure means and moving saidpressure means in company with the motion of said lever, and a 4detenting connection between said lever and said frame providing formultiple position adjustment of said lever.

3. A typewriting machine according to claim 2, characterized in thatsaid detenting connection includes a toothed rack mounted on said frame,and a detent memher on said lever selectively engaged between adjacentteeth on said rack.

4. In a typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen, pin wheelfeeding devices on said platen and rotatable therewith, said machineacting on writing paper extending over said platen and havingperforations engaged by said feeding devices for positive advance of thepaper in accompaniment with rotation of said platen, and meansadjustable in accordance with variations in the number of copiesdetermining the thickness of the writing paper for exerting a dragtension upon the writing paper prior to its engagement by said pinfeeding devices and means yieldingly holding said "last named means inselected positions of adjustments 5. Ina typewriting or like machine, arotatable platen assembly including a platen roll and pin wheel feedingdevices, there being writing paper extending over said roll and havingperforations progressively engaged by said feeding devices for advancingthe paper in accompaniment with rotation of the platen assembly, theperforations in'said paper receiving the pins on said feeding deviceswith a relatively loose fit, means for frictionally retarding advanceof, the writing paper in advance of its engagement'by said pin feedingdevices to cause the feeding pins to enter the perforations in thewriting paper in adjacent substantially contacting relation to the frontedges thereof, means for adjusting said frictional retarding means tocompensate for variations in the number of copies comprised in thewriting paper determining the thickness thereof, and means yieldinglyholding said retarding means in selected positions of adjustment.

6. In a typewriting or like machine, a rotatable platen assembly,including a platen roll and pin Wheel feeding devices, there beingWriting paper extending over said roll and having perforationsprogressively engaged by said feeding devices for advancing the paper inaccompaniment with rotation of the platen assembly, the perforations insaid paper receiving the pins on said feeding devices with a relativelyloose fit, pressure means between said platen roll and which saidwriting paper is inserted, said pressure means being adjustable betweenextremes to impose and to release frictional pressure upon the paper,said paper being tensioned by the imposing of such pressure to cause thefeeding pins to enter the perforations in the writing paper in adjacentsubstantially contacting relation to the front edge thereof, a frictionrelease lever for operating said pressure means, and means determining aplurality of adjustment positions forsaid operating lever, each of whichrepresents an optimum position for a Writing paper of predeterminednuinber'qf copies.

7. In a typewriting or like machine, operable upon writing paper havingperforations for positive feeding thereof, a rotatable platen assemblyincluding a platen roll and pin wheel feeding devices making progressiveengagernent with the perforations in the paper, friction rollsengageable and disengageable with the platen roll whereby frictionallyto engage the paper with the platen roll, a release lever for saidfriction rolls adjustable to release said friction rolls differentamounts to compensate for different numbers of copies comprised in theWriting paper, and means for holding said lever in se lected adjustedpositions.

8. The combination, in a typewriting or like machine, of a rotatableplaten, pin wheel feeding devices on said platen, there being recordmaterial having series arranged perfo rations progressively engaged bythe pins of said feeding devicesfor advancing the record material,

frictionally feed rolls for pressing the record materialfrictionallyagains t the platen to exert a drag tension on I said recordmaterial producing an optimum cooperative engagement of said pins withsaid perforations, said friction feed'rolls being located to engage saidrecord material in advance of its engagement by said feeding devices,having reference to the direction of motion of said record material,means for adjusting said friction feed rolls to compensate for differentthicknesses of record material, and means for holding said friction feedrolls in selected adjusted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS538,641 Crandall Apr. 30, 1895 Sherman Aug. 25, 1942 Thieme Nov. 9, 1948Metzner Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 26, 1931

